A Ryanair flight experienced a catastrophic incident on July 10 when a broken fan blade from the Boeing 737-800's right engine shattered a window, partially ejecting a passenger at 15,000 feet. The fan blade is reported to have broken loose shortly after takeoff from Thessaloniki, Greece.
Ljubisa Karovic, 61, was sitting in seat 11F when the window next to him explosively broke. Within moments, his right shoulder, arm, and head were outside the aircraft due to the sudden decompression. His wife, Svetlana Grkovic Maksimovic, who was seated three rows behind, managed to grab his legs and, with the help of other passengers, held him inside the cabin for approximately two minutes. Karovic sustained neck and shoulder injuries, as well as friction burns.
Following the incident, Greece transferred the investigation to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) under international aviation agreements, as the aircraft is a Boeing. The NTSB's preliminary report identified a broken fan blade as the cause of the window failure, though the specific reason for the blade's fracture remains undetermined.
Maintenance records for the engine's blades showed they were inspected in May 2026 and November 2025, with no damage noted. However, flight crews had reported four suspected bird strikes on the same engine in the year preceding the incident, with bird remains found after two of these events. Jeff Guzzetti, a former NTSB and FAA investigator, stated that while the maintenance schedule appeared to be followed, further examination will likely focus on inspection procedures and any potential damage from the bird strikes.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary faced criticism from the NTSB for publicly stating the investigation focused on foreign object damage rather than potential defects related to the plane's age or maintenance. The NTSB cautioned that no conclusions had been reached and that O'Leary was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation. Ryanair has stated it will not comment further until the investigation concludes.
Karovic, who spent six days in the hospital, described the event as a nightmare and reported experiencing ongoing neck and shoulder pain, requiring him to wear a neck brace for six weeks. He also received treatment for burns to his face and right hand and arm. He expressed gratitude for being alive, crediting his seatbelt and the actions of his wife and other passengers.
